Changes in Retinal Glial Cells with Age and during Development of Age-Related Macular Degeneration

• Published in: Biochemistry (Moscow) Vol. 83; no. 9; pp. 1009 - 1017
• Main Authors: Telegina, D. V., Kozhevnikova, O. S., Kolosova, N. G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Moscow Pleiades Publishing 01.09.2018; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Age; Aging (Biology); Angiogenesis; Animals; Antigens, CD - metabolism; Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic - metabolism; Astrocytes; Astrocytes - metabolism; Biochemistry; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Bioorganic Chemistry; Blood vessels; Development and progression; Ependymoglial Cells - metabolism; Epithelium; Glia; Glial cells; Gliosis; Health aspects; Humans; Immune system; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins - metabolism; Life Sciences; Macular degeneration; Macular Degeneration - metabolism; Macular Degeneration - pathology; Microbiology; Microglia; Neurodegeneration; Neuroglia - metabolism; Pathogenesis; Physiological aspects; Retina; Retina - metabolism; Retinal pigment epithelium; Review; Trophic factors; aging; astrocytes; retina; age-related macular degeneration; microglia; Muller cells
• ISSN: 0006-2979; 1608-3040
• DOI: 10.1134/S000629791809002X

Age is the major risk factor in the age-related macular degeneration (AMD) which is a complex multifactor neurodegenerative disease of the retina and the main cause of irreversible vision loss in people over 60 years old. The major role in AMD pathogenesis belongs to structure-functional changes in the retinal pigment epithelium cells, while the onset and progression of AMD are commonly believed to be caused by the immune system dysfunctions. The role of retinal glial cells (Muller cells, astrocytes, and microglia) in AMD pathogenesis is studied much less. These cells maintain neurons and retinal vessels through the synthesis of neurotrophic and angiogenic factors, as well as perform supporting, separating, trophic, secretory, and immune functions. It is known that retinal glia experiences morphological and functional changes with age. Age-related impairments in the functional activity of glial cells are closely related to the changes in the expression of trophic factors that affect the status of all cell types in the retina. In this review, we summarized available literature data on the role of retinal macro- and microglia and on the contribution of these cells to AMD pathogenesis.